Frederick Kumi alias Emmanuel Kojo Baah Obeng popularly known as Abu Trica, a 31 year old resident of Swedru, Ghana has been indicted on two counts for allegedly defrauding elderly Americans of over $8 million through romance scams since 2023.
Abu Trica has been accused of using AI-generated identities to form fake online relationships, gain victims’ trust, and solicit money for fabricated emergencies, travel, or investments.
The 31-year old was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, and has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering, among others and faces up to 20 years in prison. The case was investigated by the FBI Cleveland Division and prosecuted under the Elder Justice Initiative with support from U.S. and Ghanaian authorities.
Prosecutors alleged that Kumi was involved in a criminal enterprise that, since 2023, has been preying on elderly Americans via intricate romantic frauds. The indictment reveals that the group employed the use of advanced AI tools to craft believable fake identities on social media and online dating sites, allowing them to establish emotionally intimate long-distance connections with their victims.
Scams, fraud, and financial exploitation perpetrated on older Americans are the focus of the Elder Justice Initiative, which is a component of the Elder Abuse Prevention and Prosecution Act of 2017. Public reporting of suspected elder financial abuse should be directed to the U.S. Department of Justice’s recognized web venues.
The investigations was conducted by the FBI’s Cleveland Division, with prosecution overseen by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian McDonough. The United States expressed appreciation for the significant cooperation received from various agencies, including Ghana’s Attorney General’s Office, the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Ghana Police Service, the Cyber Security Authority, the Narcotics Control Commission, the National Intelligence Bureau, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the FBI Legal Attaché Office in Accra.
It is important to note that the U.S. Attorney’s Office has emphasized that an indictment does not equate to a determination of guilt, and that Kumi is afforded the opportunity for a fair and equitable trial. Alos, prosecutors have to present precise evidence grounded in factual data, demonstrating the guilt of the accused individual prior to any charges being brought forth regarding alleged misconduct.
